JACKSON – Rev. Samuel J. Messina, a priest of the Diocese of Jackson for 60 years, died Aug. 1, 2025, in Jackson, Miss., at age 86, just days before his 87th birthday.
He was born in 1938 in Grenada, Miss., to John V. and Mary T. Messina. He attended St. Joseph Seminary/College in Covington, La., and the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 29, 1965, and celebrated his first solemn Mass on June 6, 1965, at St. Peter Catholic Church in Grenada.
Father Messina served Catholic congregations across Mississippi as parochial vicar, pastor, director of the diaconate, dean and chaplain. His assignments included Sacred Heart of Jesus, Hattiesburg; St. Michael, Vicksburg; St. Joseph, Greenville; St. Teresa of Avila, Chatawa; Immaculate Conception, West Point; Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Natchez; St. Joseph, Port Gibson; Mercy Hospital, McAuley Retirement Home and Mercy Sisters, Vicksburg; All Saints, Belzoni; Our Mother of Mercy Mission, Anguilla; St. Mary, Batesville; and St. John the Baptist Mission, Sardis.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Joseph; and his sisters Katherine, Rose and Teresa. Survivors include his sister, Mary; and nieces and nephews Judith Anne, John Paul, Joseph, Doug, Brian, Rita, Diane, Michael, Maria, Connie, Ray and John, as well as several great-nieces and nephews.
A visitation, rosary and Mass of Christian Burial were held Aug. 17-18 at McKibben and Guinn Funeral Home and St. Peter Catholic Church in Grenada. Bishop Joseph Kopacz was the main celebrant.
By Joanna Puddister King JACKSON – St. Richard Catholic School officially dedicated its new campus on Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025, marking a milestone in the school’s mission to provide faith-filled education for future generations.
Founded in 1953, St. Richard has been a cornerstone of Catholic education in Jackson for more than 70 years. Generations of families have walked its halls, building a legacy of academic excellence, faith formation and community that continues to shape the city today.
Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz blessed the campus during a dedication ceremony, joined by faculty, students, alumni and parishioners. The renovations include upgraded classrooms, new technology, the Father Brian Kaskie Memorial Chapel and spaces designed to meet the needs of the whole child.
“This is an important moment for Catholic education in our diocese,” Bishop Kopacz said. “My hope is that this new campus will help our students grow as disciples and serve as a visible witness to the Catholic faith in the Jackson community.”
JACKSON – With a joyful cheer, Eve Walsh raises the scissors in triumph after cutting the ribbon for St. Richard School’s new Meadowbrook campus on Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025. Sharing in the moment are (from left) Gerald Beard, project manager; Father Joe Tonos, pastor of St. Richard Parish; Bishop Joseph Kopacz; Eve Walsh; Joni House, incoming executive director of Catholic Education for the Diocese of Jackson; and Russ Nelson, principal. (Photo by Joanna Puddister King)
The project began in 2023 when an unexpected opportunity arose – the nearby Meadowbrook Church of Christ property – just off I-55 on Frontage Road, near St. Andrew’s Episcopal Lower Elementary – became available. Recognizing how the site could meet both current needs and future growth, St. Richard parish and school launched the A Future Filled with Hope capital campaign and purchased the campus. Over the past year, the site has been transformed into a state-of-the-art Catholic school facility.
Principal Russ Nelson said having a location that puts the school “front and center” in the community is a game changer. “In the past, there were many people in the Jackson area who didn’t even know St. Richard School existed,” he said. “Now, our visibility alone will open doors, spark conversations and help us connect with more families than ever before.”
Nelson, who guided the project from concept to completion, said the process was more than construction – it was a mission-driven transformation. He credited much of the project’s success to Gerald Beard, the volunteer project manager whose dedication, expertise and countless hours of service helped bring the vision to life.
A parishioner at St. Richard, Beard brought decades of construction and public service experience to the role, including his tenure as the City of Jackson’s director of public works in the 1990s. Since 2012, he has volunteered at St. Dominic Hospital and previously oversaw the St. Richard Early Learning Center project. “With every detail and every decision, Gerald gave his very best – and we are profoundly grateful,” said Nelson.
With the assistance of Beard and the generosity of parishioners, alumni and friends of the school, Nelson noted that the new campus is “designed to inspire learning, foster community and reflect the joy we have in Catholic education.”
The new campus also honors individuals who have made lasting contributions to St. Richard. The main academic building now bears the name of Eve Walsh, a proud graduate of St. Richard and a beloved member of St. Richard parish’s Special Kids program. Born with Down syndrome in 1972, “Miss Eve” has been a lifelong member of the parish and a joyful witness to the school’s inclusive spirit. After graduating from the Special Kids program, she began working in the school cafeteria in September 1999 and retired in 2024.
Known for her ever-present smile, warm greetings and tireless work ethic, Eve helped prepare and serve meals, visited with children and pitched in wherever needed. “Eve has been the heart of our school for decades,” said Father Joe Tonos, pastor of St. Richard. “Naming the building in her honor tells every student that they, too, are loved and valued here.”
Among the most distinctive additions to the new campus is the Wiggle Room – a calm, supportive space designed for students who need a moment to refocus or regroup. Created with intention and care, the Wiggle Room reflects St. Richard’s commitment to nurturing the whole child – mind, body and spirit. The space is filled with sensory elements and calming areas where students can feel safe, supported and able to reset before returning to class ready to learn.
“It’s a blessing for both students and teachers,” said development director Celeste Saucier. “It’s more than just a room – it’s a message to our students that we believe in their ability to succeed, and we are committed to helping them feel calm, comforted and confident every step of the way.” This focus on well-being is part of the school’s broader commitment to meet students where they are, strengthen its exceptional education program and ensure that every child – no matter how they learn – can thrive.
Among the most meaningful additions to the renovated campus is the Father Brian Kaskie Memorial Chapel, a quiet space where students, faculty and visitors can pause for prayer and reflection. A large, smiling photo of Father Brian greets all who enter, capturing the joyful, approachable spirit he was so well known for. Father Brian, who died in 2021 at age 57, was beloved for his larger-than-life personality, quick wit and deep compassion. He had a special gift for connecting with young people, often making them feel seen, understood and valued.
Father Joe Tonos, a close friend, recalled how much Father Brian loved being among students and sharing the faith in a way that made it real and personal. “I think he would be thrilled to see a space where students can encounter Christ daily, right here in the heart of their school,” Tonos said.
The St. Richard School campus move and renovations also address safety, accessibility and long-term sustainability. Upgraded entrances, enhanced lighting and energy-efficient systems ensure the campus meets both present needs and future growth.
While much has been accomplished, the A Future Filled with Hope campaign continues, and there are still opportunities to be part of this chapter in St. Richard’s story. Naming opportunities remain for classrooms, stained-glass windows, the playground and the refectory, which houses classrooms, the gym and the cafeteria. “Every gift helps us reach our goal and leaves a lasting mark on our school’s story,” Saucier said.
The project represents years of planning and collaboration between the parish, school leadership and the community. Nelson said he hopes the campus will serve students for decades to come. “This is about preparing our children academically, spiritually and socially for the world they will enter – and reminding them they are never alone on that journey,” he said.
To learn more about supporting the campaign, A Future Filled with Hope, or exploring naming opportunities, contact Celeste at csaucier@strichardschool.org, call (601) 366-1157 or visit www.strichardschool.org.
By Staff Reports JACKSON – Get ready for a day of golf, giving and good company at the 43rd annual Bishop’s Cup Golf Tournament. Set for Thursday, Sept. 11, at Lake Caroline Golf Club, this longstanding tradition invites players of all experience levels – men and women – to enjoy an afternoon of friendly competition and community.
Steve Carmody, who has led the tournament for more than 33 years, said, “We’re grateful for the incredible support this tournament receives. It’s a fun and meaningful way to bring people together while supporting the needs of our parishes and schools. We look forward to seeing Bishop Kopacz and so many familiar faces on the course.”
Whether an avid golfer or just in it for fun, the Bishop’s Cup has something for all. Tee-off begins at 1 p.m., and participants can register individually or with a team. Registration is $200, and priests play for free. Also, the excitement builds with a $10,000 hole-in-one prize waiting on the course.
Registration includes a pre-tournament lunch, 18 holes of golf with a cart, snacks and drinks throughout the course, a commemorative golf towel and balls, and dinner with two drink tickets at The Mermaid Café.
Not a golfer? Dinner-only tickets are available for $40 and include both silent and live auctions to support a meaningful cause.
Rebecca Harris, executive director of the Catholic Foundation, said, “We’re thrilled to see the Bishop’s Cup continue to grow year after year. It’s always a joy to welcome back our supporters and sponsors, whose generosity makes this day – and our mission – possible.”
Proceeds from the event will benefit the Dave Cowger Memorial Trust, which provides funding for impactful grant projects throughout the diocese, and the Youth Ministry Trust, which supports retreats and programs such as the youth convention, fall junior high retreat, and SEARCH.
Sponsorship opportunities are available at multiple levels. To register or become a sponsor, visit bit.ly/BishopsCup2025. The committee is also collecting items for this year’s auctions. To donate or help assemble a themed auction package with friends, contact Rebecca Harris at (601) 960-8477.
Mark your calendars and gather your foursome – it’s going to be a day to remember on the green!
MADISON – Father Joe Tonos, co-canonical administrator of St. Joseph School, visits with students during lunch on the first day of school Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025. Sitting at the table from left: Ellery Skipper, Ollie Davis and Olivia Burrough. (Photo by Terry R. Cassreino)JACKSON – First-day energy filled the halls of St. Richard School as the Stanton family explored the brand-new campus, walking their children to homerooms. Back: Jack Stanton; Middle: Pre-K assistant Sharon Shipman, Anne Stanton, Edmund Stanton, Frances Stanton, John Stanton; Front: Mary Anne Stanton. (Photo by Celeste Saucier)VICKSBURG – Father Rusty Vincent, pictured with Luke Richards, shares a joyful moment with kindergarteners on their first day of school. (Photo by Jordan Amborn)
Father PJ Curley shares a warm hug with Nola Brasfield and chats with other Pre-K4 students on the first day of school. (Photo by Laura Kidder)MCCOMB – St. Alphonsus Parish hosted Vacation Bible School June 2-6 with the theme “A Cool Kingdom Party: Mary Leads Me Closer to Jesus.” Pictured are participants and volunteers. (Photo by Kristen L. Jones)
By Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D. The Jubilee of Hope has defined Pope Leo XIV’s first 100 days and will continue to be front and center in the early stages of his papacy until the Holy Door is closed on the Feast of the Epiphany in 2026. Eventually, the Holy Father will travel to the ends of the Earth, but for now pilgrims from every country where the Catholic Church has pitched its tent are flocking to Rome in Jubilee faith, hope and love. Throughout May, June and July, Pope Leo embraced them in the love of God. In an extraordinary way, the Jubilee Year has seamlessly witnessed the transition from the Ignatian Francis to the Augustinian Leo.
Recall that Pope Francis departed this world on Easter Monday, the day after the great day of hope, and his last public appearance was his Urbi et Orbi papal blessing on Easter Sunday. Since his installation one month later as the successor of Peter, Leo XIV has wrapped himself in the banner of hope, praying for peace and unity in the world and in the church in order to create a civilization of love.
The Holy Father’s preaching and teaching are directed to the hearts and minds of all people, but especially to those who have been baptized into the body of Christ and are on the path of discipleship. His words are both a message of consolation and encouragement, as well as a call to conversion and mission.
Pope Leo XIV delivers a video message during a public celebration organized by the Chicago White Sox and the Archdiocese of Chicago for the election of the pontiff before a Mass in his honor at Chicago’s Wrigley Field on June 14, 2025. The Chicago-born pontiff, elected on May 8, is the first American pope in history. (OSV News/Carlos Osorio, Reuters)
Among his many noteworthy addresses was his message to a packed stadium on the South Side of Chicago. On this occasion, Pope Leo was beamed in from Rome to the faithful gathered at Rate Field – home of the Chicago White Sox – for the celebration of the Eucharist – a Mass of Thanksgiving in the Archdiocese of Chicago for their native son’s emergence as the successor of Peter. Cardinal Cupich imaginatively dubbed his message the “Sermon on the Mound.” The occasion was one of a kind, but his message was universal.
After words of greeting, the Holy Father rejoiced to celebrate on the feast of the Most Holy Trinity, the source of all unity, love and peace. “I begin with that because the Trinity is a model of God’s love for us. God: Father, Son and Spirit. Three persons in one God live united in the depth of love, in community, sharing that communion with all of us.”
During his address, the Holy Father spoke directly to the young people gathered in the stadium and to their peers participating online. It is a powerful message of hope, which I quote in large part: “I’d like to send a special word of greeting to all the young people – those of you gathered together today, and many of you who are perhaps watching this greeting through technological means, on the internet. As you grow up together, you may realize, especially having lived through the time of the pandemic – times of isolation, great difficulty, sometimes even difficulties in your families, or in our world today.
“Sometimes it may be that the context of your life has not given you the opportunity to live the faith, to live as participants in a faith community, and I’d like to take this opportunity to invite each one of you to look into your own hearts, to recognize that God is present and that, perhaps in many different ways, God is reaching out to you, calling you, inviting you to know his Son Jesus Christ, through the Scriptures, perhaps through a friend or a relative … a grandparent, who might be a person of faith. But to discover how important it is for each one of us to pay attention to the presence of God in our own hearts, to that longing for love in our lives, for … searching, a true searching, for finding the ways that we may be able to do something with our own lives to serve others.”
In his reflection, Pope Leo addressed every generation in the People of God to know their dignity as God’s children, to personally know the Lord Jesus as a friend, and to embrace the call to be ambassadors for hope in this world. “So, I would like to invite all of you to take a moment, to open up your own hearts to God, to God’s love, to that peace which only the Lord can give us. To feel how deeply beautiful, how strong, how meaningful the love of God is in our lives. And to recognize that while we do nothing to earn God’s love, God in his own generosity continues to pour out his love upon us. And as he gives us his love, he only asks us to be generous and to share what he has given us with others.”
In other words, play ball in the stadium of God’s kingdom.
By Father Nick Adam We had an atmosphere that was both different and familiar at our annual seminarian convocation in early August. Each summer, the seminarians gather to rest, relax and prepare for the new school year.
This year’s event was familiar because we enjoyed a fun time together, as always. Each morning, we prayed a holy hour, and either Father Tristan, Bishop Kopacz or I celebrated Mass before a day of recreation. The seminarians spent time fishing, swimming, playing pingpong and pool, and simply relaxing.
Pictured left to right: Father Tristan Stovall (assistant vocation director), Joe Pearson, Francisco Maldonado, Will Foggo, EJ Martin, Wilson Locke, Grayson Foley, Henry Haley, Philip Speering, James Villasenor, Eli McFadden, III, Joshua Statham and Father Nick Adam (vocation director). (Photo by Tereza Ma)
We also took care of some business, including taking photos for our annual poster and reviewing good communication practices and responsibilities for the coming year. Last year, you may have noticed that most of us sported mustaches on the poster – we called it the “mo-poster.” This year, the theme is “normal.” Ha!
What made this year truly different was the number of seminarians in attendance. We are proud and blessed to welcome six new seminarians this academic year – a 100% increase in enrollment. We now have 12 total seminarians. I give thanks to God for this great gift, and I know your prayers have been instrumental in making it possible.
The Lord tells us to beg the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. We’ve been doing that for years, and he is showing us how faithful he is. Praise the Lord!
Please keep this rapid growth in mind as you consider attending and supporting our Homegrown Harvest Festival in October. This annual fundraiser will take place Saturday, Oct. 11, at St. Francis Catholic Church in Madison. Our goal is to raise $200,000, which will go directly toward funding the education of these future priests. We especially need sponsors.
If you haven’t received information in the mail or online, visit jacksondiocese.org/online-giving and click “Homegrown Harvest” to purchase tickets or become a sponsor.
We have been hard at work in this field for the last six years, and now we have six new seminarians in just one year. The Lord is with us in this mission. If you can help fund the education of our future priests, please consider doing so. I am so proud of our seminarians and grateful to God for this bountiful harvest. Thanks to so many of you who have been part of this ministry over the years – the best is yet to come!
(For more information on vocations, visit jacksonvocations.com or contact Father Nick at nick.adam@jacksondiocese.org.)
CLARKSDALE – Seminarians Francisco Maldonado and Will Foggo joined members of Russell Tree Service, Father Raju Macherla, and parish volunteer Ronnie Demilio in a campus beautification project at St. Elizabeth Church and School. The work included careful pruning of the parish’s 21 historic live oaks, a reminder of both the South’s natural beauty and the strength and rootedness of faith. (Photo by Catelin Britt)
By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) – While giving money to charity is a good thing, God expects Christians to do more by giving of themselves to help others, Pope Leo XIV said.
“It is not simply a matter of sharing the material goods we have, but putting our skills, time, love, presence and compassion at the service of others,” the pope told thousands of people gathered in St. Peter’s Square Aug. 10 for the recitation of the Angelus prayer.
Commenting on the day’s Gospel reading, Luke 12:32-48, the pope focused on how Jesus invites his followers to “invest” the treasure that is their lives.
Pope Leo XIV greets people gathered in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican for the recitation of the Angelus prayer Aug. 10, 2025. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)
“Everything in God’s plan that makes each of us a priceless and unrepeatable good, a living and breathing asset, must be cultivated and invested in order to grow,” he said.
“Otherwise, these gifts dry up and diminish in value, or they end up being taken away by those who, like thieves, snatch them up as something simply to be consumed.”
“The works of mercy are the most secure and profitable bank” for investing those treasures and talents, the pope said, “because there, as the Gospel teaches us, with ‘two small copper coins’ even the poor widow becomes the richest person in the world.”
Pope Leo urged people to be attentive so that no matter whether they are at home or work or in their parish they do not “miss any opportunity to act with love.”
“This is the type of vigilance that Jesus asks of us: to grow in the habit of being attentive, ready and sensitive to one another, just as he is with us in every moment,” the pope said.
IN EXILE By Father Ron Rolheiser, OMI God’s presence inside us and in our world is rarely dramatic, overwhelming, sensational, impossible to ignore. God doesn’t work like that. Rather God’s presence is something that lies quiet and seemingly helpless inside us. It rarely makes a huge splash.
We should know that from the very way God was born into our world. Jesus, as we know, was born into our world with no fanfare and no power, a baby lying helpless in the straw, another child among millions. Nothing spectacular to human eyes surrounded his birth. Then, during his ministry, he never performed miracles to prove his divinity, but only as acts of compassion or to reveal something about God. His ministry, like his birth, wasn’t an attempt to prove his divinity or prove God’s existence. It was intended rather to teach us what God is like and how God loves us unconditionally.
Father Ron Rolheiser, OMI
In essence, Jesus’ teaching about God’s presence in our lives makes clear that this presence is mostly quiet and under the surface, a plant growing silently as we sleep, yeast leavening dough in a manner hidden from our eyes, spring slowly turning a barren tree green, an insignificant mustard plant eventually surprising us with its growth, a man or woman forgiving an enemy. God works in ways that are seemingly hidden and can be ignored by our eyes. The God that Jesus incarnates is neither dramatic nor flashy.
And there’s an important lesson in this. Simply put, God lies inside us, deep inside, but in a way that is almost unfelt, often unnoticed, and can easily be ignored. However, while that presence is never overpowering, it has inside of it a gentle, unremitting imperative, a compulsion, which invites us to draw upon it. And if we do, it gushes up in us as an infinite stream that instructs, nurtures, and fills us with life and energy.
This is important for understanding how God is present inside us. God lies inside us as an invitation that always respects our freedom and never overpowers us, but also never goes away. It lies there precisely like a baby lying helpless in the straw, gently beckoning us, but helpless in itself to make us pick it up.
For example, C.S. Lewis shares this in explaining why, despite a strong affective and intellectual reluctance, he eventually became a Christian (“the most reluctant convert in the history of Christendom”). He became a believer, he says, because he was unable to ultimately ignore a quiet but persistent voice inside him which, because it was gentle and respectful of his freedom, he could ignore for a long time. But it never went away.
In retrospect, he realized it had always been there as an incessant nudge, beckoning him to draw from it, a gentle unyielding imperative, a “compulsion” which, if obeyed, leads to liberation.
Ruth Burrows, the British Carmelite and mystic, describes a similar experience. In her autobiography Before the Living God, she tells the story of her late adolescent years and how at that time in her life she thought little about religion and faith. Yet she eventually ends up not only being serious about religion but becoming a Carmelite nun and a gifted spiritual writer. What happened?
Triggered by a series of accidental circumstances, one day she found herself in a chapel where, almost against her conscious will, she left herself open to a voice inside her which she had until then mainly ignored, precisely because it had never forced itself upon her freedom. But once touched, it gushed up as the deepest and most real thing inside her and set the direction of her life forever.
Like C.S. Lewis, she too, once she had opened herself to it, felt that voice as an unyielding moral compulsion opening her to ultimate liberation.
This is true too for me. When I was seventeen years old and graduating from high school, I had no natural desire whatsoever to become a Roman Catholic priest. But, despite a strong affective resistance, I felt a call to enter a religious order and become a Catholic priest. Despite that strong resistance inside me, I obeyed that call, that compulsion. Now, sixty years later, I look back on that decision as the clearest, most unselfish, faith-based, and life-giving decision I have ever made. I could have ignored that beckoning. I’m forever grateful I didn’t.
Fredrick Buechner suggests that God is present inside us as a subterranean presence of grace. The grace of God is “beneath the surface; it’s not right there like the brass band announcing itself, but it comes and it touches and it strikes in ways that leave us free to either not even notice it or to draw back from it.”
God never tries to overwhelm us. More than anyone else, God respects our freedom. God lies everywhere, inside us and around us, almost unfelt, largely unnoticed, and easily ignored, a quiet, gentle nudge; but, if drawn upon, the ultimate stream of love and life.
(Oblate Father Ron Rolheiser is a theologian, teacher and award-winning author. He can be contacted through his website www.ronrolheiser.com.)
